BURDEN UPON THE FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 198, 17 May 1920, Page 4

BURDEN UPON THE FARMERS

NEED FOR. ORGANISATION A PALMERSTON DISCUSSION ■ / By Toloeranh.—Speoial OorreßDondent. Palmerston North, May 16. Speaking.to his motion to hold a mass meeting of farmers nt Palmerston North during National Dairy Show week —a motion which was eventually carriod at the meeting- of the Manawatu Sub-Provincial Farmers' Union on Saturday—Mr. F. W. Hubbard pointed out the absolute necessity of organising tho union throughout the Dominion. They would not be the power they should be in the country without one big organisation, and, as a stepping-stone to this, Bub-proviuciali schemes sliould bo established in all parts of the country with a • Dominion-wide organisation at tho head. Mr. J. Gloyn, in supporting the motion, epoke at lougth on organisation in> the Old Country. At one time, he said, the farmers thoro were practically the' slaves of everybody, and it was not until they actually felt the pinch that • there was any attempt to organise. Now, however, by means of farmers' unions, they were a power in the land, and practically commanded their own prices for their products, and had frco markets for everything. Mr. C. P. Lynch said that the farmers to-day were in a more serious position than ever before. The land and income tax had increased, and the' Prime Minister hod given indications of a further increase in post and telegraph charges ■as well as in railway fares and freights. This was going to affect farmers detrimentally, while they would be liarderdiit by tho inevitable drop in market rates which would follow tho glut in the frozen meat stores to-day when the produce was placed on the Homo markets. It was quite certain thab ere long farmers would havo to take less for their produce all round. That, with the rising taxation, would mean that the Government would havo to tighten up tho screw on tho farmers, who must feel that this was not far off. The only man who had to pay was the man who was working tho land and endeavouring fo make a living out of it. That would make him think harder thaai he had ever done before during the past two years. Other members said' that there ivero nioro farmers out of the union than in it, and to make it tho power it ought' to be it should be a strong political body.